An Iranian lawmaker said consultations are underway to secure the release of the remaining Iranian border guards abducted by terrorists at a military post on the common border with Pakistan in October.

Ali Kord hailed the efforts by the security forces and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) that resulted in the freedom of five of the 14 kidnapped border guards, Tasnim News Agency reported.

He said consultations are going on to secure the release of the remaining abductees.

The lawmaker, however, deplored what he called the Foreign Ministry’s lack of serious action for the freedom of the Iranian hostages through diplomatic channels.

On November 22, the IRGC said the five abductees returned to Iran after consultations and interaction with Pakistan.

The so-called Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group infiltrated the country from the Pakistani side of the border on October 15 and took 14 border guards hostage, local Basij forces and IRGC members.

The IRGC Ground Forces’ Quds Base announced in October that the local Basij forces and the border regiment forces stationed at the border post in Mirjaveh region in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan had been abducted after “acts of treason and collusion” involving an element or elements of the anti-revolution groups who had infiltrated the country.

Iranian military forces along the southeastern border areas are frequently attacked by terrorist groups coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Tehran has frequently asked the two neighbors to step up security at the common border to prevent terrorist attacks on Iranian forces.